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Shoojit Sircar, whose production house Rising Sun Films has created a new benchmark on social thrillers with ‘Pink’, has begun work on his next directorial venture- a film that focuses on a real life forgotten hero Udham Singh. Based around the Indian Independence struggle and the unsung martyr Udham Singh, Sircar has been working on the film’s pre-production patiently, as this has been a passion project for him for years.
Speaking about the film, Sircar said, “During my theatre days in Delhi, back in 1995 when I was still studying, I would go with a group to Punjab which was just coming out of a period of turmoil, and sing songs of communal harmony. I visited Amritsar and the Jallianwala Bagh then and was greatly inspired by the story of this fiery revolutionary who shot dead Sir Michael O’Dwyer, the former Lieutenant Governor of Punjab in British India, in London to avenge the massacre of 1919.”
That Sircar has decided to focus on this film next is pre-destined. He has been hoping to make this inspiring story of this heroic martyr for a long time, but each time around, a film based on the Indian freedom struggle would come up and he would push his film to a later date. “I guess every film has its own destiny. But now the time has come to remind the people of our country about those behind the freedom we are enjoying today. Udham Singh’s name doesn’t find a mention in our textbooks, he was one of our silent heroes, but his daring and sacrifice marked a turning point in India’s history. After Bhagat Singh, he was one of our greatest martyrs and his vision for the country was very contemporary and relevant even today,” asserts the filmmaker who’s scouting for a leading man who can play this heroic role, which spans 30-40 years and will bring the Shaheed to life.
The film will be made under Shoojit’s home banner Rising Sun Films and will be produced by his partner Ronnie Lahiri.
To bring to life the story of Udham Singh, Sircar has begun shooting background scenes, and will film major portions in Punjab, Kashmir and parts of New Delhi. The film will also travel to Kolkata and London, for the assassination of General Dwyer took place in the United Kingdom. Simultaneously, even as he searches for a suitable hero to play this martyr, Sircar is working closely with writer Juhi Chaturvedi on a fresh, young love story. Sircar will be directing both films together.
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